Archives for January 2018

I wish I could scream this from the rooftop…and I do have to say, I’ve come pretty close to doing that. Because I’m a dietitian, I get constant questions and comments about diets. From ketogenic, to Slimgenics, to Weight Watchers, to paleo, to Atkins, to gluten-free, to Whole30. My short answer is always that I don’t support “diets” of any kind, and typically it’s followed up with “well, it’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle.” Okay, I get that. But here’s the thing. Any plan that encourages you to restrict, omit entire food groups, replace meals with shakes, count points and calories and grams, pee on a stick, or go against what your body needs and craves IS A DIET.

Now, I understand that some people need to follow certain diets for health reasons, and others may need to eliminate certain foods for a while just to “reset,” which is perfectly fine. I get that some of these “diets” have the potential to help you establish healthier habits, and bring some self-awareness into your life. But I’m not into it when diets CLEARLY have a goal to make you feel terrible about yourself, lose weight or change your body through restriction or other measures that are not sustainable in any way. I’ve been on this planet for 26 years and in the nutrition world for part of that, and never once have I met someone who has been able to maintain weight loss, sanity or happiness after going on a “diet.” And the thing is, I don’t blame anyone for believing what all of the so-called diet gurus have to say. It’s not their fault. Our society at a whole is great at making people believe that they aren’t worthy or successful or productive or healthy unless they are on a diet. Everyone (including me) has fallen for crazy diet claims. But they won’t go away until we all take a stand against them.

While seeing someone succeed physically and mentally on a diet is rare, what I have seen is individuals who are able to maintain long-term weight loss, happiness and health with an overall shift in their eating pattern and lifestyle. Nope, they don’t need to replace their meals with a pre-made shake, avoid dessert completely, exercise for 3 hours a day, or weigh themselves constantly. Instead, they focus on eating mostly healthy foods, lots of plants, less junk food and alcohol, and including a balanced amount of movement into their life. They control their stress, get enough sleep and they don’t forget to live a little by enjoying a cookie or two when they truly want it. They listen to their bodies, instead of the media and the celebrities who promote all the crazy fad diets.

Another issue with diets is that they set people up to feel awful about themselves. People call themselves “failures” because they weren’t able to maintain weight loss, but it’s not THEM that failed, it’s the diet that failed. Think about it. OF COURSE you’re not going to keep up with counting every calorie that goes into your body. OF COURSE you’re not going to want to drink a nasty protein shake for dinner while everyone else is eating pizza. OF COURSE you’re not going to stick with a diet when you’re starving because you’re not providing your body with the calories that it needs to function properly!

Another point I want to make here is that just because your Aunt Betsy went gluten-free and lost 50 pounds and cured all of her health ailments does NOT mean going gluten-free is going to work for you. Just because your co-worker’s uncle is the “picture of health” after going on a ketogenic diet does NOT mean you need to jump on the keto train, too. You see, nutrition, weight loss, health, and so on is not one-size-fits-all. When it comes down to it, it’s the overall lifestyle changes that people are making after going on a “diet” that allows them to maintain their results. It’s not the diet itself. Examples: a person who has been eating the Standard American Diet for years who suddenly switches to a paleo diet that includes lots of whole foods is of course going to lose weight and improve their health.

I know this post is turning into a bit of a rant, but hear me out. There is not ANY scientific evidence that has been able to conclude that diets work for the long-term. None. In fact, some studies have shown that individuals who go on restrictive diets actually do more harm than good to their physical and mental health. Diets have the potential to damage your hormones and metabolism. They have the potential to lead to binge-eating, anxiety and even depression. But there is evidence that individuals who eat intuitively and maintain healthy SUSTAINABLE habits are able to improve their health and achieve a weight that their body naturally wants to be at (yep – the weight YOUR body wants to be at may be completely different than what society tells you your weight should be. More on that later).

Here are some questions to ask yourself before going on a “diet”:

Is this going to prevent me from being able to eat the foods I love?

Is this going to prevent me from being able to socialize and enjoy time with friends and family?

Does this diet require me to restrict my calories, which my body needs to function?

Does this diet suggest that I avoid or eliminate an entire macronutrient (protein, carbs, fat)?

Is this diet going to add work and stress to my life?

Am I going on this diet with a one and only goal to lose weight or change my body?

Is this diet going to be difficult to keep up with in the long-term?

Does this diet require me to drink meal replacements or skip meals entirely?

If you answered yes to any of these, then you might want to re-consider for your own health and sanity. Instead of going on a “diet,” think about some changes you can make to your life to help you achieve your health goals. Could you start eating some more vegetables? Could you start eating meals without distractions, so that you can recognize your fullness more easily? Could you stop thinking about certain foods as “bad,” so that you aren’t tempted to binge on them? Could you reach out to a non-diet registered dietitian (hi!) or therapist who could help you re-frame your thinking, and assist you with setting reasonable goals?

I hope this post has convinced you not to resolve to “diet” this year. Make 2018 the year of taking care of yourself and listening to your body, not the year of dieting, restricting and obsessing over food.

Primary Sidebar

Health and Nutrition Writing Services

Looking for an expert nutrition writer? You've come to the right place! Bri Tobritzhofer is a Minneapolis-St Paul based registered dietitian and expert nutrition writer. She has a mission to help your wellness brand stand out with credible, science-based content that is easy to understand and relatable to your audience. Read More…

Let’s Connect!

Archives

Footer

Something is wrong.

Instagram token error.

Health and Nutrition Writing Services

Looking for an expert nutrition writer? You've come to the right place! Bri Tobritzhofer is a Minneapolis-St Paul based registered dietitian and expert nutrition writer. She has a mission to help your wellness brand stand out with credible, science-based content that is easy to understand and relatable to your audience. Read More…